"A little mercenary, wouldn't you say, Deberra?" Ebony's voice was like honeyed venom.
Leetah nodded softly. "He is demanding, but he can be a good lover."
Rayek fought back a choke. Vaguely he recalled a human saying... "Listen not to the conversation of maidens. It's not safe!"
Ebony laughed softly. "I'm sure . . ." Though her voice was dry, inside she was quaking. What had given her secret away?
"Still, Leetah!" This time it was Shenshen who poked her nose in. "He's such a gloomer! Especially now! He wouldn't even *know* what to do with one of us!"
"On, I know precisely what to do with you and Deberra," Rayek snorted to himself. "Another 10,000 years in wrapstuff, that's what!"
"Right you are, Shenshen." Deberra again. "He wouldn't know a true maiden if she fell out of a tree in front of him. And he would NEVER let one touch him!"
"And I suppose you consider yourself a 'true maiden'?" he commented to himself sarcastically.
Ebony just wanted them all to shut up.
Leetah's voice again, this time rather hesitant. "Perhaps you are both right...." Her voice brought a halt to his internal mocking.
"Of course I'm right!" Deberra said indignantly.
"Whoever this is that wants to be his lovemate had better be ready for some BIG disappointment! *I* heard that he's not even such a great lover!" Krim laughed cruelly.
"Of course, you wouldn't know presonally," Rayek smirked.
"YOU were talking to Kahvi, Krim!" Ebony sighed in exasperation.
"He can be gentle and tender, at rare moments," Leetah muttered, and all but Ebony roared in laughter.
"But he's so desperate for Recognition that he's demanding all the time." Deberra's words were a silken dagger.
"Morons. Soulless rutting sows," he muttered, debating whether to surprise them or just stalk away. He didn't need to hear this.
"Not that you're any better, Deberra," Ebony said too sweetly. "I hear you drive Skywise up the trees with your demands. Why do you think he was so desperate for you to go to Rayek? And as for the rest of you, what do any of you know about him, other than your own speculation?! None of you have ever taken the time to get to know him!"
"They couldn't even if they tried, little story-teller."
Stung, Shenshen voiced the group's thoughts. "And you have, Ebony?"
"AT LEAST, I'M TRYING!!!!" Ebony lost it. "All I hear about from each of you is how cold and withdrawn Rayek is, how hateful he is, how no one would ever want to be close to him again. I think all of you are jealous little fools. If he's cold toward you, it's because you invite it, not because he doesn't want to be around anyone. But none of you could possibly see that because all of you are too busy making up excuses for your OWN shortcomings!"
Even Rayek blinked at the venom in Ebony's voice.
"If you'd bother to think every once in a while, you'd see that he is hurting, that he needs the time alone, and that even if he WANTED a lovemate, none of YOU could measure up! He doesn't need some plotting little fluff-brain! He needs a FRIEND, someone who CARES about him, let alone LOVES him! And none of you, not even you, Leetah, are capable of that! I would think, Healer, that you at least would do better than you have, but even you aren't capable of the caring that Rayek needs!"
Everyone--including the hidden listener--was struck speechless.
For several minutes, the other girls sat staring at Ebony in shock. Finally, Deberra spoke up, her voice trembling slightly. "And I suppose that you're the only one who is capable of that caring, Ebony?"
"Maybe. I don't know. But at least I care whether or not I am...."
Rayek's face was burning, he could feel it. He wanted to get as far away from this conversation as possible, but he couldn't tear himself away.
Ebony had had enough of this conversation. She was sickened at the thought that Rayek might have ever cared for any of these bubblebrains, and been desperate to make ONE of them understand. "I doubt I'm the person he needs. But if he'd let me, *yes*, I'd become his lovemate. And I'd treasure the chance. And the rest of you can just go to the humans' cookfires, for all I care!" With that, she turned on her heel, striding out of the room.
Rayek wasn't fast enough in getting away from the door. Ebony caught sight of him as she stormed out the door. They both stood frozen, their faces flaming. Considering how dark Rayek's skin was naturally, the fact that he was blushing so vividly was remarkable.
Finding her voice, Ebony choked out, "You . . . heard everything?"
He couldn't bring himself to say anything, the expression on his face was enough of an answer and he knew it. Ebony turned to flee. "...I didn't mean to," he started lamely.
The other girls, peaking around the corner, giggled. "There goes your only chance, Rayek." Deberra called out poisonously. "Better go after her!"
He nearly thanked the High Ones for providing a distraction so conveniently. Every bit of his body language telegraphing supreme anger, he turned on the fluff-brained maidens.
His face was a mask of fury, and the air was thick with restrained power.
"Shut. Up," he growled with dangerous control. His eyes speared them without even using his magic.
Deberra, not put off by his fury, giggled. "Of course, Ebony wouldbe the only one interested in you. She's so desperate for a lovemate, she'll probably turn to Ekuar next!" The other maidens--even Krim--edged away from Deberra, looking at her as if they thought she'd lost her mind. Not an unreasonable assumption, especially given the sudden coldness in the room.
"Ekuar... is more an elf... than you... ever were... or ever could be." Rayek's tone made it clear that there would soon be another Rift such as the one he'd blasted in the Frozen Mountains... only this one would be right where Deberra was standing. He stepped closer to her, his eyes boring in to hers with golden intensity.
**Go find Ebony, Rayek.** Leetah's Sending was calm.
Rayek's attention never wavered from the maiden in front of him. "You," he said with maddening venom, "will never speak another word until you can speak sense."
Deberra's hand flew to her throat. She turned panicked eyes to her friends, her mouth opening and closing soundlessly.
Leetah's Sending changed slightly, this time overshadowed with a touch of warning. **Go find Ebony.**
Rayek smiled with grim satisfaction; it was a chilling sight. Without another word to anyone, he turned and walked away.
Ebony sat in a rather forgotten corner of the Palace, muttering softly. "Why did he have to hear that? It isn't fair."
Rayek stopped short, hearing Ebony's voice. He hadn't meant to follow her, and he certainly hadn't intended to over hear her again! What tricks were the High Ones playing on them?
"He wasn't supposed to know how I feel. I wasn't going to tell him, but that bubblebrain just made me so MAD. He doesn't need this right now. He doesn't need to be pushed. He just needs a friend. Someone to talk to who cares about him. And even if he did want a lovemate, he'd never want me and we both know it."
Ebony hung her head down. "It's just not fair."
Taking a partial step forward, Rayek cleared his throat.
Ebony's head snapped up, then dropped against the wall behind her with an audible thunk. "Do you make a habit of listening to other elves' conversations?"
He scowled. "No."
She figured he'd been there for a while. The High Ones were trying to tell her to keep her mouth shut. "Of course not. I'm sorry. But you heard what I was saying, didn't you?" She sounded resigned to the fact.
"That's how I learned you were here before I walked into you," he said. "I... was not paying attention to where I was going."
"Okay." Ebony turned to face him. "Shall we get it over with, then?"
"Get what over with?" his brow furrowed.
"Your rejection. This is the part where you tell me that you'd sooner lovemate a rabid human, that I'm a little fool, and to leave you alone." Ebony's tone was bitter. "Of course, I know the reaction so well by now, let's just save it. I know that's how you feel." Ebony shrugged, turning away.
Rayek swallowed. "They're right," he said.
"Who's right?" Ebony peered back over her shoulder, curious at the change in subject.
"The fluff-brains."
"The only thing they could possibly be right about is the amount of hot air they have between their ears."
"It... is not you," he continued, ignoring her comment.
"Rayek . . . don't."
Ebony suddenly looked her age, having spent those countless years outside of wrapstuff. "I don't want excuses. Please. I know the truth."
His eyes changed, held a curious mix of openness and hardness. "It isn't you. I don't want to be so open again."
"Fine." She shrugged lightly. "I've lived without you as a lovemate for as long as I can remember. It's not as though I have no one else." Though there *isn't* anyone else, her mind whispered.
"You've agreed that there's a chance of friendship between us. That's enough for me. I'm sure you wouldn't have wanted anything else anyway."
He paused a moment, then plunged ahead. "Do not take it personally, Ebony. I--" he stopped for a moment, seeming to choke on his next words. "I," he started again, swallowing, "am not made for lovemates."
"I know." She walked up to him. "You need a lifemate. I can't offer that right now, so I'll do the next best thing. I'll give you my friendship, and pretend that you have done the same for me." She smiled gently. "And whenever you're ready to truly give your friendship, all the better." Drawing a piece of cloth out of a hidden pocket in her outfit, she handed it softly to him. "This is yours. How it survived all this time, I'll never know. But I found it in my pack earlier today."
Rayek could only watch her questioningly. He had no words for her earlier declarations. At her indication, he stared down at the piece of cloth, trying to remember where he had seen it before. And suddenly, he recalled it. The headcloth. That Savah had given Ebony. His headcloth. That Ebony had tried to give back the day he saved her from the snake. One thought ran through his head. She had kept it. His questioning stare turned to one of amazement and confusion.
"What is it, Rayek?"
"Why?"
"Why, what?"
"Why did you keep this?"
"Apparently you weren't listening to my speech to the others. I've been... interested... since the Raid." She thought back with a gentle smile. "That day.... That was the first time you were truly gentle with me. I wanted to remember it, and pretend that someday we'd be more than just a SunFolk and a Wolfrider." She walked up to Rayek, standing in front of him, her head barely coming to the top of his arm. Looking straight up at him, she reached out a hand, brushing his cheek. "Winnowill wasn't the only one who wanted you for a lovemate. She's just the only one who got you."
If Rayek hadn't already been struck speechless, that would have done it for sure.
Suddenly struck with embarrassment, Ebony coughed and turned away. "That isn't the reason I've been plaguing you, though. I don't like games like that. It just seemed to me that you needed someone to remind you that there were other elves out there than Leetah, Ekuar, Savah, and Venka. I'm very sorry I hurt you, Rayek. I didn't mean to. I . . . haven't had many lovemates OR friends, so I know I'm screwing this up. But at least now you know how I feel." Her shoulders drooped slightly when he didn't say anything. "I'm sorry," she said, walking away.
Rayek stared after her, his tongue still captive. The ancient head-cloth fluttered in his hand. He glanced from it to Ebony's retreating back, then slowly walked back to his room. He had much to think on.